Simon Jones brings you the very latest news, gossip and rumours from around the football world.

In today's column, Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic is interesting Liverpool scouts, Xabi Alonso is expected to leave Real Madrid and seek a move abroad and West Ham are talking to ex-Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins over a loan deal.

Incoming: Ivan Rakitic, the Sevilla midfielder, is being scouted by Liverpool

16:39

PICTURED - Early arrival: Wenger inspects the pitch at the Emirates ahead of Chelsea match

(Picture: Arsenal via Getty Images)

16:35

Webb is controversial pick for Man United v Tottenham match

Howard Webb has been chosen to officiate the New Year's Day match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford.

The referee has a controversial history in this fixture having awarded United a dubious penalty at 2-0 down in an April 2009 meeting.

Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was adjudged to have felled Michael Carrick despite television replays showing the Brazilian had clearly touched the ball before the player.

United converted the penalty and went on to win 5-2.

16:27

St Johnstone lift ban on Celtic flags and banners for Boxing Day clash

Fans will now be able to take flags and banners to Celtic's Boxing Day clash at St Johnstone following a U-turn by the Perth club and the police, according to the Scottish champions.

St Johnstone had announced on Sunday that a ban had been imposed in a bid to prevent flags being used as a shield to let off smoke bombs and flares, which is a criminal offence in Scottish football grounds.

Celtic's most recent Scottish Premiership away trip, against Motherwell, saw a number of pyrotechnics left off among away fans and two smoke bombs thrown on to the pitch.

But Celtic announced on Monday that the decision had been reversed.

A Celtic statement read: 'Following discussions today between Celtic, the local police and St Johnstone FC, it has been decided that flags and banners will now be permitted at the match on Boxing Day.

'We have an excellent relationship with everyone at St Johnstone FC and we thank them and the police for reviewing their initial decision.

'Football is about colour and atmosphere and creating a positive occasion for all and everything should be done to ensure that such an event can take place.

'However, it is also imperative that the safety and the well-being of fans is given paramount importance and in this regard we share the obvious desire of St Johnstone FC and the police that all matches take place in a safe environment.

'We do not need or welcome any form of pyrotechnics at matches and clearly any continued presence of these does nothing for Celtic Football Club or our supporters.

'Celtic has already had discussions with our main supporters' representatives and we have been assured that our supporters will again back the club in the right manner at McDiarmid Park.

'With the team currently unbeaten in the league we want our fans to come and enjoy the game safely in a positive atmosphere - and hopefully celebrate the club continuing this great run over the festive season.'

Flare up: Some Celtic fans used flags and banners to cover the lighting of pyrotechnics during the recent win over Motherwell

Chris Wheeler: David Moyes is hoping for a 'Christmas miracle' to have Robin van Persie or Michael Carrick available over the busy festive period.

Both players were expected to be out until the New Year, Van Persie with a groin injury and Carrick while he recovers from minor surgery to cure an Achilles problem.

But Moyes has not given up hope of one of them returning in time for the games against Hull, Norwich or Tottenham.

16:20

Arsenal confident tonight's match with Chelsea will go ahead

It's certainly wet and wild at the Emirates as the pre-Christmas storm sweeps across the UK but as it stands tonight's crunch Premier League fixture is going ahead.

The blustery winds and teeming rain are sure to have an impact on play, however, and fans are being advised to double check their travel plans if heading to the match by train as some services have been cancelled.

Chris Wheeler: It could all change again when Arsenal meet Chelsea on Monday night, but for now let’s stop for a moment and celebrate what is turning out to be arguably the best Barclays Premier League season of them all.

It’s certainly the most unpredictable. Who would have thought that we’d be looking at a top-four of Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton? In August, yes, September, maybe, but Christmas?

14:53

Fahey returns to his roots by rejoining St Patrick's Athletic

Colin Young: Former Birmingham City midfielder Keith Fahey has signed for St Patrick’s Athletic.

Fahey, who turns 31 in January, has had two previous spells with the club under former managers Eamonn Collins and John McDonnell. He made 191 appearances and scored 31 goals from midfield.

The 16-capped Ireland international has recently returned to Dublin after his release from Birmingham.

He said: 'I’m delighted with the prospect of coming home and to be back at the club. I really enjoyed my time here before so I’m now just looking forward to get back playing football.

'I was offered various deals from other clubs and ones which were financially a lot better, but I’ve come back here because of the great loyalty I’ve always received.

'Both the fans and the club have always been great to me, and the stability of the club behind the scenes really made me want to come back and play my football in Inchicore again.'

Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed Marouane Fellaini will be out for up to six weeks following wrist surgery.

Moyes revealed Fellaini had an operation at the weekend after a troublesome back complaint failed to clear up as hoped.

'He had his operation on Saturday morning,' said Moyes.

'We just couldn't get him recovered from his back. We thought it would be okay after 10 days but it wasn't getting any better so we made a quick decision to get the wrist done.

'We think it will be six weeks but there is a chance it could be shorter than that.'

If Fellaini's recovery goes as scheduled, he will miss seven Premier League games, including the trip to Chelsea on January 19, plus both legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final with Sunderland and the FA Cup third and fourth rounds.

Crucially, though, the Belgium midfielder will be back well ahead of the trip to Olympiacos on February 25 in the first leg of United's Champions League knockout round tie.

Missing: Marouane Fellaini will be out for up to six weeks after wrist surgery, Davis Moyes has confirmed

14:37

Poor Gus is ill

Colin Young: '[Poyet] is ill, full of man flu and doctor told him to go home,' said Sunderland assistant Charlie Oatway.

14:35

O’Shea should be fit for Boxing Day clash

Colin Young: John O’Shea should be fit to face Everton on Boxing Day.

The Sunderland captain has had scans and x-rays on the shoulder he injured in the goalless draw with Norwich City on Saturday.

Although he finished the game after suffering the injury in the first half, medical staff were concerned he had done significant damage to the right shoulder.

The Ireland international has had further tests today, assistant manager Charlie Oatway has confirmed, and the club are hopeful he will be fit for the trip to Everton.

His defensive partner Wes Brown is suspended for three games after his dismissal at the weekend.

14:32

Gus sends assistant to press conference

Colin Young: Gus Poyet has ducked out of his pre-Boxing Day press conference and sent assistant Charlie Oatway in his stead.

The former Brighton player has 11 names after his parents named him after the 1973 QPR squad.

None of those names is Charlie.

Missing in action: Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has sent his assistant Charlie Oatway to cover his press conference

Neil Moxley:Interesting communique from the Supporters’ Trust at Birmingham City this morning…

The fans’ group has studied the accounts released by the football club and asked some questions in public of the Birmingham owner, Carson Yeung, currently awaiting a verdict on his trial into money-laundering in Hong Kong.

Manager Lee Clark is working with a horribly lop-sided squad. Striker Nikola Zigic earns £65,000-a-week, a hangover from the Blues’ days in the Premier League of two years ago.

But when that is taken out of the equation the Geordie says he is working with a budget that is the second lowest in the Championship.

However, the supporters have analysed the figures and have asked the current regime why the club continues to pay five per cent interest on a loan to Yeung, a transaction they claim has no accompanying paperwork to support it.

And it also suggests that the annual pay of one director at £390,000 is ‘out of kilter’ with the club’s current predicament.

All in all, Clark – who certainly has impressed supporters with his diligence and work ethic, if not his incessant tinkering – deserves praise for plodding on, seemingly with one arm tied behind his back.

It is clear however from the fans’ missive which says the ‘current regime is presiding over a slow and painful deterioration of our club’ that they remain deeply unhappy with the situation.

Laura Williamson: It's the third-placed team in the Barclays Premier League against the club in fourth, but there is another intriguing strain to this one: Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have never beaten a team managed by Jose Mourinho in nine previous meetings.

The Portuguese has tasted victory on five occasions, with Chelsea drawing four times against Arsenal under his management.

'It's not me against Wenger,' protested Mourinho on Friday, saying it is 'my Chelsea against his Arsenal'. But the history between this two great managers would suggest otherwise.

Adam Crafton: Manchester United target Everton Ribeiro has reiterated once more his desire for a move to Old Trafford.

United have had the Cruzeiro star watched extensively by their scouts and David Moyes is understood to be considering a move in the region of £12 million to secure the midfielder, who earlier this month won Brazil's player of the year award.

However, United will face competition from Liverpool, who have also monitored the midfielder while Real Madrid are also interested.

Everton has previously played in a youth tournament at United and when asked by Globoesporte whether he would prefer a move to United over the Spanish side, the 24-year-old said: 'Yes , I would prefer that! The structure they (United) have in place is one of the best in the world. I have been there already and went to a lecture by Alex Ferguson when I was younger.'

11:46

Benteke to miss Villa's Christmas games after seeking specialist help in Belgium

Neil Moxley:Christian Benteke will be out of Aston Villa’s programme over Christmas.

Villa boss Paul Lambert confirmed following the defeat by Stoke City on Saturday that he would be taken out of the firing line.

He did not make Villa’s first-team squad at all for the trip to the Britannia Stadium and now it has been confirmed by sources in Belgium that he has returned home.

Benteke made the trip on Sunday and will spend a few days in the company of Belgian national team physio Lieven Maesschalck.

The big striker’s goal drought now extends over ten hours and he has looked a shadow of the player who terrorised defences in the Premier League last season.

The extent of his problems has not been made public. However, it is understood that the forward picked up a knee injury to compound an earlier issue with his groin.

Matt Barlow:It is decision day for Daniel Levy and he seems to have two basic options: a) give the job to Tim Sherwood, or b) give it to Glenn Hoddle until the end of the season and, as Chelsea did last year, take time to select a summer appointment, which looks like it could be Louis van Gaal.

There is a third option: which is to persuade Sherwood to take the job until the end of the season. He has been adamant he will not accept such an arrangement, but without the "interim" title and with a fixed promise to extend the deal at the end of the season if certain criteria are met it might not feel like such an insult.

C'est la vie! Pardew says French contingent can cope with Premier League demands

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is confident his French contingent can cope with the gruelling demands of an English Christmas programme.

Twelve months ago, the Magpies headed into the holiday period teetering on the brink of disaster having won just two out of 12 games in all competitions since the beginning of November, including successive Barclays Premier League defeats by West Ham, Swansea, Southampton and Stoke.

That prompted owner Mike Ashley to make a significant splash in the January transfer window to recruit Mathieu Debuchy, Massadio Haidara, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran.

The Magpies avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth but have pushed on since, and this time approach Christmas having won six of the eight matches they have played during the corresponding period, with the imports from France taking key roles.

Pardew said: 'They have not really been through those horrible months that we had last year, November and December, so it's new to them.

'But I think they will cope. They look really strong at the minute. We have really worked hard on our fitness levels and therefore, I think we will be okay.'

On the up: Alan Pardew has overseen a vast improvement in Newcastle's fortunes this season

Cristiano Ronaldo has looked back on another sensational year and pledged to be even better in 2014.

The Real Madrid star tweeted a picture that reflects his celestial status in the game.

He now has just three players ahead of him in the club's all-time leading scorer list after netting in the 3-2 win over Valencia yesterday.

The Portuguese forward has scored 164 goals in 151 games matching Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez who reached 164 in 207 games. Ronaldo now has only Santillana on 186 goals, Alfredo Di Stefano on 216 and Raul with 228 goals ahead of him.

Sami Mokbel: Put up or shut up, sink or swim, walk the walk — all three could be Arsenal’s mantra tonight.

Having spent the majority of the season at the Barclays Premier League summit, lose against Chelsea and Arsene Wenger’s side will drop to fourth.

The accumulation of four points from a possible nine, including last weekend’s humiliating 6-3 loss at Manchester City, have raised questions. Wenger needs answers, starting with his first win over Jose Mourinho — at the 10th attempt — at the Emirates Stadium.

Exclusive by Ian Ladyman: Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has had the wrist operation that is expected to keep him out of action for as long as two months.

The Belgian international underwent the procedure to repair tendon damage at a hospital in the north-west over the weekend.

Fellaini – a £27m signing from Everton in the summer – suffered the injury to his wrist weeks ago but has been playing in a protective cast in a bid to help United through a time when they have suffered other midfield injuries.

Spell on the sidelines: Marouane Fellaini had wrist surgery over the weekend and could miss two months

10:02

Balotelli announces new deal with Puma

Mario Balotelli has announced a new tie-up with Puma and will wear the firm's boots from now on.

The AC Milan and Italy striker wore a custom-made pair of boots featuring newspaper headlines about him in the match with Roma last week - a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact he's rarely out of the news.

Signing the deal, Balotelli said: 'This is a great move for me. From the early conversations I had with PUMA it was clear that they understand me, my personality and my ambition.

'The product and marketing plans they have developed are very exciting and I will be proud to be associated with everything I have seen.

'PUMA’s support for the Italian National team was another instrumental reason for me signing this contract and I am sure that the coming years will bring many good things for us all.'

Malky Mackay remains in grave danger of the sack from Cardiff City this Christmas despite the club’s owner Vincent Tan being persuaded not to pull the trigger just yet.

Tan was expected to dismiss Mackay after Saturday’s defeat at Liverpool, only for club chairman Mehmet Dalman to release a statement on Sunday revealing that the controversial Malaysian had decided to hold fire.

However, Mackay is still waging a desperate fight for his job after club sources revealed Tan had not even spoken to his manager in person at Anfield and that Dalman’s statement is being viewed as an attempt to patch up Cardiff’s battered image.

West Ham defender James Tomkins has been charged with assaulting a police officer in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Tomkins, 24, was arrested at the Sugar Hut nightclub in Brentwood and was also charged with resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly after security staff at the Essex nightspot called the police.

Tomkins has been released on bail to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on January 9.

Charged: West Ham defender James Tomkins has been charged with assaulting a police officer

Colin Young: Fabio Borini has pleaded with Sunderland fans to stick with Gus Poyet’s struggling side in their survival battle.

Although referee Martin Atkinson took the brunt of supporters frustrations at the end of Saturday’s forgettable 0-0 draw with Norwich City, understandably they struggled to vent them completely at a team incapable of creating a chance, or period of pressure to warrant success in a must-win game.

The stand-out moments came when Jozy Altidore’s hesitancy denied him a rare shot and Ki Sung-yeung’s over-complicated chip flew over an open goal. Gus Poyet was equally exasperated.

But as Sunderland adapt to Poyet’s passing style, Borini has called on fans to have patience, in the hope performances improve.

Keep the faith: Fabio Borini and Sunderland drew a blank against Norwich on Saturday

They may be eighth in the Premier League table, but points tallies and placings were put to one side as Manchester United hit the town for a festive meal last night.

Rather than a rowdy pub crawl, David Moyes and his squad enjoyed a quiet meal at the Rosso restaurant owned by United defender Ferdinand.

The team appear to have emerged from their slump, recording back-to-back wins in the Premier League against Aston Villa and West Ham, as well as reaching the last four of the Capital One Cup.

08:38

Good Morning and Welcome

To Monday's Football 9-5... there are just two days to go until Christmas but there's a cracker in store tonight as Arsenal meet Chelsea in a London derby that could have ramifications on the title race. We'll have all the build-up to the big match throughout the day.

It's certainly not a season of joy and goodwill at Cardiff City though an uneasy Christmas truce appears to have broken out between Vincent Tan and Malky Mackay. We'll have the latest as the Bluebirds prepare for their Boxing Day clash with Southampton.

And we could see developments today on the vacant managerial position at Tottenham as chairman Daniel Levy searches for a replacement for Andre Villas-Boas. Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal could be the man coming in, though not until the summer.